Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a form of direct self-harm that involves willful damage to bodily tissue without suicidal intent; it includes behaviors such as cutting, burning, carving, biting, scraping, and scratching of the skin, as well as hitting and skin and scab picking. Engagement in NSSI has been shown to relate to a host of maladaptive states and outcomes, including depression, anxiety, poor emotion regulation, and suicidal ideation and attempts. Socially sanctioned forms of body modification (e.g. tattoos and piercings) have received less attention as potential self-harm outlets, but have been posited to represent similar physical outlets of emotional pain. Indirect self-harm, in contrast, can include behaviors such as substance abuse, disordered eating, participation in abusive relationships, and sexual risk-taking. Extant literature suggests that self-harm in either form is associated with higher levels of self-criticism than healthy adults endorse. However, few studies have examined self-criticism in each of these self-harming subgroups. Female participants were recruited online using Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Results from the present study indicate that 1) direct self-harming individuals are considerably more self-critical than indirect self-harmers and control subjects, 2) those who engage in multiple forms of self-harm are more self-critical than those engaging in only one form, 3) self-criticism did not significantly predict self-harming behaviors, and 4) there are no significant differences in self-criticism based on developmental trajectory of self-harming behaviors. Additionally, individuals with body modification (e.g. tattoos, piercings) did not exhibit different levels of self-criticism than those without socially sanctioned alterations. Implications, limitations, and future directions for research of this nature are discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc1248457 |
| Date | 08 1900 |
| Creators | Tucker, Molly Salome |
| Contributors | Neumann, Craig, Blumenthal, Heidemarie, Callahan, Jennifer |
| Publisher | University of North Texas |
| Source Sets | University of North Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | vi, 67 pages, Text |
| Rights | Public, Tucker, Molly Salome, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights Reserved. |
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